Tim Keller | December 24, 1995
In public these days, Christmas is seen as meaning that if we work hard, if we hold hands and breathe in unison, if we get together, we can make the world a better place. It’s like the song in the Live Aid concert in 1985, “We Are the World.” That’s what most people think the meaning of Christmas is.
But after that 1985 concert, Bob Dylan said to the press that he was uncomfortable singing a song like that. They asked him why. He said, “Because man cannot save himself.” So we look today unto Bob Dylan for the true meaning of Christmas—because he got it right.
The Bible says Jesus Christ came because we cannot save ourselves. Colossians 1 shows us 1) the need for reconciliation, 2) the way of reconciliation, and 3) the radical, thorough results of reconciliation.
This Month's Featured Book
We are called to forgive others the same way Christ forgave us. But forgiving others — especially when you’ve truly been wronged — can be one of the hardest things we do in life. This book will show you how forgiving others doesn’t mean sacrificing your need for justice; but rather, forgiveness is a precondition for seeking true justice.